It is my understanding that the 2-day CITB Scaffold Inspection Training Scheme (SITS) course covers the basic deatils--more info at:- http://www.cskills.org/s...raining_scheme_sits.aspx

Thanks but this does not actually answer my question.....how is the scaffold inspected, what are the criteria?

Pikeman, your question was answered pretty well by Jay IMO! Are you still none the wiser? You could alternatively contact NASC and ask your question, some info is available as below: http://www.nasc.org.uk/faqs

STILL NO ONE has actually answered the question.............is this a VISUAL inspection, or do you have to go onto the scaffold, if so how much of it would you "walk".........etc Would you kick the boards, check tightness of a few clips, what?

Pikeman. On the assumption that scaffold is several metres high, you couldn't possibly do an adequate weekly inspection without walking the lifts - you may be able to see cracks in the underside of boards from ground level but not cracks that are opening up from the upper side. Similarly as one of your postings suggests, you may need to physically check the security of some clips and check that where double couplers are needed, double couplers are 100% used. I've investigated one fatal accident on Kwikstage where guard-rail gave way and two men fell 6m. One was lucky, one was not. Doubt that I'd have spotted the defect from ground level, it would have stuck out at platform level. (The evidence indicated that the locking wedge at the end of a bent tube was simply not in position - we were able to repeat the failure at the supplier's yard). Similarly, you won't be able to see whether all open edges on the inside of the scaffold platforms are either filled in or suitably protected. There are some parts of the inspection that are best done from ground level and from some distance (e.g. on the other side of the road). If it doesn't look right, it almost certainly isn't. The human eye can see whether the standards are vertical (i.e. within tolerance - 1 in 50), ditto whether the ledgers and transoms are horizontal. Also whether sufficient sway bracing. From ground level, but closer you should be able to check cross-bracing (assuming not a system, in which case not usually required) and some ties - but need back up to check whether ties are secure. I've pulled ring bolt anchorage ties out of brickwork by hand - should each be capable of withstanding 1 tonne force. .....and finally, most weekly inspections of scaffolds are probably underresourced, just like inspections of lifting equipment. One of the guys at what was then CITB, Bircham Newton told me that the inspection of an old RB22 crawler crane SHOULD take half a day, with jib lowered and all elements of that and rope, sheaves etc carefully checked.